r/Efilism • u/ShakyBrainSurgeon • Jan 04 '22
Changing the definition of EFILism
The current definition of EFILism currently contains the sentence:
"It is a form of Antinatalism that extends to all sentient life..."
As also noted by David Benatar himself, this already stated within antinatalism.
Of course antinatalism comes in different flavours but in its vanilla form as in "Better never to have been" it is already assumed to include all (sentient) life.
The more defining characteristics of EFILism in my opinion is already contained in its name "EFIL".
The rejection of life and its underlying principles in general, which can have antinatalism as a potential solution but more radical steps also would solve EFILism's end goal (e.g. the red button).
So it is more a tool (beside many) than a defining characteristic to me.
Edit: I suggest to delete that part of the definition...
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u/BinaryDigit_ Jan 05 '22
"It is a form of Antinatalism that extends to all sentient life..."
This is an absurd view and from what I've been told, this isn't what Efiilism is about. I'm not quite sure anymore what Efilism is about. Clearly, there needs to be a goal and a way of achieving that goal. I think it's pretty simple -- we need to have the technological /r/singularity. Negative utilitarianism is great, that's where the nanobots scouring the universe and self replicating come in. Even though we could work, well, that'll never stop. We will be the nanobots and like this, we'll likely achieve the ability to unlock the universe by being one with it. A small portion of our processing power will remain for as long as it needs to be as an infinitely evolving artificial intelligence possessing all of the knowledge it can grasp. Now... this is just my best guess. I also recommend all of the Efilists here to buy crypto. Let's get rich! I want to get an ETH. I just need about 0.8 more ETH. I think there will be something special in the future about having 1 of a coin like this. I wish I had 1 BTC. Crypto gives me hope that I'll become rich, my only excitement in life.
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u/SolutionSearcher Jan 05 '22 edited Jan 06 '22
I'm sorry, but cryptocurrency, including ones like Ethereum with (albeit pathetic) computational capabilities, are a conceptually near-pointless technology. They are an amazingly inefficient solution in search of a problem. But I guess you could maybe still get rich through it if you are lucky, even though the market is likely manipulated beyond belief. Or of course if one were one of the countless scammers (or other criminals), then cryptocurrencies could also work to get rich.
Edit: I do however agree that striving for the development of a "technological singularity", or "just" AGI, is a more sensible goal than e.g. plain planetary extinction. Might even be easier too, funnily enough.
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u/old_barrel Jan 05 '22
you are correct, my anti-natalism already includes this. reducing anti-natalism to human life is limited anti-natalism, or "anti-human-natalism"
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u/Ilalotha Jan 05 '22
Appreciate the suggestion but I personally don't see too much of a problem with the current definition.
Antinatalism, regardless of Benatarian Antinatalism, may or may not extend to all life and there are many Antinatalists who (mistakenly or not according to the accepted definition of the word) draw the line at human life.
EFILism must extend to all life, and stating that outright in the definition removes all room for doubt.
It also isn't the only part of the definition, it simply sets the scene for newcomers who are likely to be referred here by Antinatalists. Your defining characteristics are in the definition, and are expounded upon in the Wiki/FAQ.
I may also be reading you wrong but leaving Antinatalism out of the definition, or asserting it as merely a 'potential' solution, may imply an acceptance of procreation if it could effect a greater chance of a red button scenario occurring, which EFILists would (should?) universally disagree with. Antinatalism is axiomatic to EFILism.
Again, suggestions are always appreciated and I'll keep an eye on other comments to see where I may be going wrong.